We don't need to be convinced about the Mercedes-AMG GT R's capabilities - but just in case you had any doubt, it's set a new production car lap record. Just before the Bathurst 12 hour race last weekend, the beastly AMG set a new production car lap record around the high altitude Mount Panorama circuit, completing a lap in a blistering time of 2:16.5 – that's around eight seconds faster than the previous record set by the Mercedes-AMG GT S in 2005.

To put things into prospective, it's still not a patch on the current lap record set by the McLaren 650S GT3 race car, which set a time of 2:01.5, and is 10 seconds slower than the fastest V8 supercar. The record was set by factory driver Bernd Schneider, who can be seen hammering the GT R around the twisty circuit in the video below.

For Australian fans, it was the first chance to see the GT R in the flesh before it goes on sale in mid-2017. The new lap record isn't all that surprising given the GT R's potent performance, thanks to its twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 engine delivering 577 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, along with wider, larger wheels and race-style tires, re-tuned suspension and improved aerodynamics. Clearly, its performance shouldn't be underestimated - especially after it conquered the Nurburgring last year in a little over seven minutes.